Computer Science Seminar by Tyler J. Skluzacek: Automating Discovery on Supercomputers: From Secure Workflows to AI Agents
SPEAKER: , staff research scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
TITLE: Automating Discovery on Supercomputers: From Secure Workflows to AI Agents
ABSTRACT:
Supercomputers fuel modern science, but turning an idea into an experiment on a leadership-class system is often slow, manual, and full of security hurdles. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we are developing the Secure Scientific Service Mesh (S3M), an API-driven framework that provides programmatic access to HPC resources and is actively evolving toward a zero-trust security model. S3M automates the orchestration of workflows and data movement across facilities, allowing scientists to focus on discovery instead of infrastructure. I will share examples illustrating how S3M is advancing science in domains such as additive manufacturing and atomic-scale microscopy, and how these capabilities lay the groundwork for a new generation of AI agents that can independently launch, monitor, and adapt experiments on the world’s fastest machines. The talk will also highlight internship and employment opportunities at ORNL.
SPEAKER BIO:
Tyler J. Skluzacek is a staff research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Chicago and his B.A. in applied mathematics and statistics from Macalester College. In addition to his research, Tyler is an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago and Trinity Christian College, where he teaches courses in distributed systems, data science, and scientific visualization. He has held leadership roles in national conferences such as eScience, HPDC, and SC, and actively mentors students and builds pathways into high-performance computing.